Step-ladder.



Patented Dec. 4, I900.

W L GLIDDEN STEP LADDER.

ic M

Unite YATES WRIGHT L. GLIDDEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,339, dat d D b 4, 1900.

Application filed March 1,-1900. Serial No. 6,973. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WRIGHT L. GLIDDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in step-ladders, and its novelty and advantages will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which-' Figure l is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the upper portion of a step-ladder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the hinges embodied in the ladder. Fig. 4 is a broken perspective View illustrating the manner in which the rear end of one member of the hinge is let into a notch in the top bar of the ladder.

In said drawings similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views, referring to which a A A are the side bars, B B the treads or steps, and O the top bar, of a ladder, all of which may be of the ordinary construction, with the exception that the top bar 0 is provided in its rear edge with notches a (see Fig. 4) for a purpose presently described.

D D are braces which are interposed between the bars A and treads B with a view of supporting the treads and materially strengthening the connection of the same to the side bars. These braces are cast or otherwise formed in one piece, and each comprises arms Z) c, disposed at right angles to each other and designed to be connected to a bar A and tread B, respectively, and an oblique bar d, interposed between the said arms, as shown.

E E are prop-bars which are connected adjacent to their lower ends by a cross-bar whichlhave not deemed it necessary to illustrate and have their upper ends slightly reduced, as indicated by e, and F F are myimproved hinges, which are interposed between and connect the prop-bars E and the top bar 0. These hinges are similar in construction,

and therefore a detail description of the one shown in Fig. 3 will. suffice to impart an understanding of both. The said hinge comprises membersf g and a pintle h connecting the same. The member fis formed in one piece of suitable metal and is madeup of a rectangular loop i, designed to receive the upper end of one prop-bar E, an armj reaching downwardly from said loop and designed to rest at the outer side or" the prop-bar and be connected thereto by a transverse bolt is, and an arm Z reaching up from the loop 2' and having a rounded upper end and also an aperture to receive the pintle h. The member g comprises a body m, which terminates at its rear end in an angular loop .12, designed to receive the rear edge of the top bar C and be seated in one of the notches a thereof, apertured ears p g, which extend laterally in opposite directions from the upper edge of the body m and are designed to be connected by screws or the like to the under side of the top bar C, ears 0" s, which depend from the body m, and are designed to be connected by bolts or the like to the outer side of one of the bars A, and a rounded lug t, which depends from the lower edge of the body 'In and is designed to rest alongside of the arm Zof memberfand be connected thereto by the pintle h. In addition to the features above mentioned the body m of member g is provided in its inner side with a recess a, which is rounded, as shown, so as to receive and permit play of the arm Z of memberf.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that by reason of the loops 2' of the hinge membersfreceiving the upper ends of the prop-bars E a great part of the strain is removed from the bolts and all liability of the bars E being split thereby is removed. It will also be appreciated that the seating of the hook ends at of the hinge members 9 in the notches o of the top bar 0 assists in holding said members g against lateral movement, and thereby removes a great portion of the strain from the bolts which connect said membersto the side and top bars, with the result that the connection between the propbars and the side and top bars is materially strengthened.

It will further be appreciated from the foregoing that the hinge connection between the prop-bars and the side and top bars is such as to permit the prop-bars to swing against the side bars when the ladder is not in use, which is always desirable.

Hax'ing described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

In the ladder described, the combination of the side bars, the treads interposed between and connected to the side bars, the top bar mounted upon the side bars and having notches (L in its rear edge adjacent to its ends, the prop-bars having the reduced upper ends e, and the hinges interposed between and connecting the prop-bars, the side bars and the top bar; the said hinges respectively comprising the member g having ears disposed at right angles to each other and connected to the side and top bars, and a hook n at its rear end seated in one of the notches a of the top bar, and also having thedepending apertured lug i, the member fhaving the rectangular loop '6 snugly receiving the reduced end e of one of the prop-bars, a lugj extending down from the outer bar of the loop and connected adjacent to its lower end to the outer side of the prop-bar, and the apertured lug I extending up from the outer bar of the loop and arranged at the inner side of the lug t of the member g, and the pintle pivotally connecting the lugs t Z of the two members, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WRIGHT L. GLIDDEN.

Witnesses:

N. D. NIPER, JOSEPH H. SeUIREs. 

